MORRISON, Colo. – For the NHRA West Central Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Thunder on the Mountain event at mile-high Bandimere Speedway, reigning national champion Jim Whiteley regained the lead in the Top Alcohol Dragster national standings, and Tony Bartone took over the top spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car with what surprisingly was his first divisional/regional victory in nearly two years.

Whiteley dominated Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying, running back-to-back-to-back 5.40s on a surface on which no other driver was able to get out of the 5.70s. "I don't know if I've ever had that much of an advantage on the field before," said Whiteley, whose J&A Service/YNot dragster led the pack with an aggregate best of 5.44, 265.06. "It's almost more pressure than when a bunch of other people are running right with you."

After the three flawless qualifying runs, Whiteley was up in smoke instantly on a first-round single when opponent Kevin Wayman was unable to appear and ran a backpedaling 5.69 in the semifinals when former Top Dragster racer Dean Dubbin narrowly red-lighted. "It didn't go three inches in the first round," said Whiteley, who coasted to a 12.02. "In the semi's, I had it at half-throttle at one point and it was still spinning the tires. We took some gear ratio out and some timing of it for the final, and the car ran better than we really expected it to."

Whiteley jumped all the way back to the 5.40s with a 5.47 to erase Greg Hunter, who was making his first career final-round appearance. Hunter qualified the Exact Air dragster No. 2 with a 5.70, defeated Denver's Geno Tumbarello in the opening round with a 5.99, and returned to form with a another 5.70 in the semifinals against 2012 runner-up Edwin Schmeeckle and a 5.71 opposite Whiteley in the final. Schmeeckle got off the mark six-thousandths ahead of Hunter in the semifinals and nearly matched Hunter's 5.70 with a 5.71 that left him just three-thousandths of a second short at the finish line.

For Whiteley, the win was his sixth in a row at his home track, a record for this event. "What can I say?" he asked. "I love racing here. I wish there still was a national event here."

If there was, Bartone would probably win Alcohol Funny Car. With a string of final-round appearances – he's been at least runner-up more than half the time – he has won more rounds at national events than anybody over the past year and a half, but that success has eluded him in regional competition. "I think the last divisional I won was in Bowling Green, Ky., in about 1993," he joked. (Actually it was there in August 2011.) "We do great at national events, which are supposed to be harder, and never get a break at these things."

Bartone has two wins, a runner-up, and an 11-1 win-loss mark in his three most recent national event starts with Rick Jackson's Centre Pointe Collision team. But he had won just a single round in 2013 regional competition until this race, which, for a few hours, was looking like his worst one yet. "We went 0-for-2 on the first two qualifying runs, couldn't get down the track at all, and it was raining before the last session," he said. "We were really starting to think that it wasn't going to happen."

When the skies eventually cleared, Bartone not only made the cut; he went all the way to the top spot with the only run all weekend in the 5.70s, a 5.76. That put more than a tenth on the tough field, which included early qualifying leader Jay Payne and defending West Region champion Annie Whiteley but not recent Topeka winner Jirka Kaplan or longtime crew chief Dave Allison, who ran a 6.09 in his driving debut.

Bartone ran a 5.96 in the opening round to erase veteran Lance Van Hauen but was outperformed by Payne, who advanced with a 5.89, and former Division 7 champ Terry Ruckman, who ran low e.t. of the round in a 5.87 win over Kris Hool. In the semi's, Bartone stopped Scott McVey with a 5.89 and Payne shut off to a 7.29 to when Ruckman veered into his lane.

Payne had an excellent .049 reaction time in the final, but Bartone mowed down his 5.95 with a 5.80, low e.t. of eliminations by far. "You come to Denver, and it's a whole different tune-up," he said. "People were smoking the tires and driving all over the place. It's always a tough place to race because it's just so different with all the altitude, but [crew chief Steve] Boggs really has this place figured out."

Stock Eliminator saw a great side by side final round with Michael Brand, Thorton, Colo., beating out fellow Colorado racer Jim Hughes, Grand Junction, Colo., by about two feet at the finish line. Brand went 11.848 at 101.51 to Hughes' 11.649, 113.87.

A pair of home state racers also battled for the Fineline/Madcap Top Dragster trophy with Mitch Mustard, Arvada, Colo., taking the win in 6.964 seconds at 186.15 mph over Robert Ross, Pueblo, Colo., who went too fast and broke out by .014 seconds at 6.956.

Tommy Grimes grabbed his second win in the Top Fuel Harley class, closing the gap on Doug Horne for the championship. Grimes qualified No. 1 with low elapsed time and top speed of the event at 6.688 seconds, 218.30 mph the clicked off a 6.720 at 212.59 in the final where he was to race Ron Gledhill whose engine would not fire.

Denver's Leland Sykes was perfect at the line as he took the win in the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson running 9.235, 139.91 against Jason Clampitt, Lino Lakes, Minn.

Other winners in the NHRA Harley Davidson Drag Racing Series were Scott Truett over Dale Nilles in Pro Dragster, Stan Sheppard won in Pro Gas against Lance Bonham, Edward Golson in Street Pro, Larry Fore won Draggin' Bagger, and Hot Street went to Larry Fore

Rain showers returned Sunday evening that forced officials to postpone the remainder of eliminations. Final rounds in Comp, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Street, and Top Sportsman as well as semifinals and the final round in Super Gas will be completed at a later date.

West Central Division racers head to Cordova Dragway for the next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event this coming weekend, June 21-22.

The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, West Central Division Thunder on the Mountain Presented by Grease Monkey:

Super Stock, Super Comp, and Super Street finals will be run July 4 at Bandimere Speedway

Saturday

MORRISON, Colo. – Qualifying is complete and the fields are set for this weekend's Thunder on the Mountain NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway as Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes made final preparations for Sunday's eliminations. Final qualifying and time trials were also held for the rest of the Lucas Oil Series classes as well as in the NHRA Harley Davidson Drag Racing Series.

The event is the fourth of six in the NHRA West Central Division with racers earning points toward national, regional and divisional championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $500,000. Other classes include Comp, Jerry Haas Racecars Top Sportsman and Fineline Madcap Top Dragster that took to the track on Friday and will conclude on Sunday with final eliminations and the winner's circle celebration.

Gates open on Sunday at 8 a.m. Racing begins at 8:30 a.m. Tickets for the event are $25 for adults, children 6-12 are $6 and kids 5 under are free with a paid adult. For more information call Bandimere Speedway, (303) 697-6001 or visit www.bandimere.com.

The following are Saturday's final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, West Central Division Thunder on the Mountain Presented by Grease Monkey:

MORRISON, Colo. – Racing kicked off today for Thunder on the Mountain and the NHRA West Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Bandimere Speedway with racers in eleven classes looking to battle the quarter mile along with the riders in the NHRA Harley Davidson Drag Racing Series.

The 250-mph Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car classes made their first qualifying run today with two more scheduled for Saturday that will set the fields for Sunday's eliminations. The Top Fuel Harleys made a pair of qualifying runs with two more scheduled for Saturday while the division's Fineline Madcap Top Dragster and Jerry Haas Racecars Top Sportsman also ran twice and will set their fields tomorrow with final qualifying.

Gates open at 8 a.m. on Saturday with racing set to begin at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars will highlight Saturday's action with qualifying rounds at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Top Dragster, Comp Eliminator and Top Sportsman will qualify at 2:45 and 5:30 p.m. Top Fuel Harleys run at 2:30 and 5:15 p.m.

Admission for the event is $20 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday, children 6-12 are $6 each day and kids 5 and under are free with a paid adult. For more information call Bandimere Speedway, (303) 697-6001 or visit www.bandimere.com.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the Thunder on the Mountain NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Bandimere Speedway:

MORRISON, Colo. - Thunder on the Mountain will be held at Bandimere Speedway on June 14-16. The event is one of 44 scheduled across the country where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division's Jerry Haas Race Cars Top Sportsman Series, Fineline Madcap Top Dragster Series and the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson will run in conjunction with the event as will the NHRA Harley Davidson Drag Racing Series.

Gates at Bandimere Speedway open at 8 a.m. each day.Qualifying and time trials start Friday at 9:30 a.m. and continue Saturday at 9 a.m. Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator qualify at 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 2:45 and 5:30 p.m.Top Fuel Harleys will qualify at 12:25 and 3:45 p.m. on Friday and at 2:30 and 5:15 p.m. on Saturday.Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualify on Friday at 4 p.m., and Saturday at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.Eliminations begin on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

Tickets for the Thunder on the Mountain event are $10 Friday, $20 Saturday and $25 Sunday. Children 12 and under are free on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday children 6-12 are $6 each day. Children five and under are free.

Bandimere Speedway is located at 3051 S. Rooney Road; west of Denver off Interstate 470 in Morrison.For more information call the track, 303-697-6001, or visit www.Bandimere.com.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Thunder on the Mountain, the third of six events in West Central Division competition where drivers earn points leading to divisional, regional and national championships as well as a chance at a share of the year-end purse of more than $519,000. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The division's Jerry Haas Race Cars Top Sportsman Series, Madcap/Fineline Top Dragster Series and the Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson will run in conjunction with the event along with the NHRA Harley Davidson Drag Racing Series featuring the Top Fuel Harleys.

WHERE: Bandimere Speedway, Morrison, Colo. Track is located at 3051 S. Rooney Road; west of Denver off Interstate 470 in Morrison.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 14-16, 2013

SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, June 14 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at 9:30 a.m. Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator qualifying starts at 11 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Top Fuel Harleys qualify at 12:25 and 3:45. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying begins at 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 15 - Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Top Fuel Harleys qualify at 2:30 and 5:15 p.m. Top Dragster, Top Sportsman and Comp Eliminator qualifying starts at 2:45 and 5:30 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying sessions are at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS - $10 Friday, $20 Saturday, $25 Sunday. Children 12 and under free on Friday. Children (ages 6 to 12) are $6 Saturday and $6 Sunday. Children 5 and under are admitted free with paid adult. For more information please call Bandimere Speedway, (303) 697-6001 or visit www.bandimere.com

BONUS PROGRAMS:NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND: a $519,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2013 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional, regional and national champions. Regional awards include $10,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions with Divisional awards of $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000.

JEGS ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $119,000 point fund from Jegs High Performance. The 2013 Jegs Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes as well as Top Sportsman and Top Dragster. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2013 Jegs Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only.

The winning division and regional teams will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, $5,000 to Top Sportsman and Top Dragster champions, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $25,000 towing fund to get to the event.

Event sponsor, Jegs High Performance, is offering a "double up" bonus to Jegs Allstars participants. Any 2013 Jegs Allstars champion who also wins the national event will have his/her Allstars prize doubled.

NHRA HARLEY-DAVIDSON DRAG RACING SERIES: The NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series is contested at 10 events held in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series with a minimum of one event in each of the seven NHRA divisions. Classes of competition include Top Fuel, Pro Dragster, Pro Gas, Draggin' Bagger, Street Pro, and Hot Street.

In addition to the individual event championships, Top Fuel riders will compete for a series championship. The best seven of 10 races will count for points toward the year-end championship. The year-end champion in Top Fuel will receive $7,500; second place, $3,000; and third place, $1,000. The combined event purse and year-end awards for the program will total more than $175,000.

AEROMOTIVE LOW QUALIFIER BONUS: A $3,000 bonus fund paid to the low qualifiers in Comp Eliminator, Super Stock and Stock Eliminator at each of the division's six races. The best qualifying driver in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock will each get $200 per event, while the best qualifier in Stock Eliminator will get $100 per race.

JERRY HAAS RACE CARS TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES presented by Aeromotive: The Jerry Haas Race Cars Top Sportsman Series, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in the West Central division's Top Sportsman class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $2,750 champions' purse posted by Jerry Haas Race Cars will be paid to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place points finishers.

FINELINE GRAPHICS & MADCAP RACING ENGINES TOP DRAGSTER SERIES: The West Central Division Top Dragster Series, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in the West Central division's Top Dragster class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $2,750 champions' purse will be paid to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place points finishers.

NHRA SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE SERIES presented by HARLEY DAVIDSON: The NHRA Sportsman Motorcycle Series presented by Harley Davidson, run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, is an opportunity for competitors in NHRA's Sportsman Motorcycle class to earn points toward divisional championships. The $14,000 champions' purse posted by Harley Davidson will be paid to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place points finishers in NHRA divisions that host Sportsman Motorcycles.